Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan is crispy chicken breasts topped with marinara and mozzarella cheese, ready in less than 30 minutes! It’s a quick and easy meal that your whole family will enjoy. Serve with cooked pasta or crusty bread for a complete dinner!
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan is an easier and healthier take on classic chicken parmesan that tastes incredible! The breadcrumb parmesan coating is perfectly crispy on the outside, and the inside of the chicken is super tender and juicy. We typically pair this dish with a side of spaghetti and garlic bread. However, if you’d like to keep this meal low in carbs and calories, try it with a side of sautéed or roasted vegetables.
Why you should make this recipe
- It’s quick and easy to make with a simple list of ingredients. Great for busy weeknights!
- Using the air fryer creates juicy chicken with an irresistible golden brown crispy exterior. You’re going to want to make this on repeat!
- The air frying method is so much healthier, with less fat and calories! There’s no need to actually fry the chicken in a ton of oil. Plus, there’s no grease to cleanup!
Ingredients needed
This air fryer chicken parmesan recipe is great because it uses so many basic ingredients. You can easily create a crowd-pleasing meal with some chicken, cheese, bread crumbs, and your favorite spaghetti sauce! Here’s everything you’ll need:
- Chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut in half, so they’re nice and thin!
- Salt & pepper: To give the chicken flavor.
- Egg + water: Whisked together to create the batter for your chicken.
- Flour: Dredging the chicken in all-purpose flour will make it perfectly crispy.
- Panko breadcrumbs: Combined with parmesan cheese and seasonings for a light and crisp outer texture!
- Parmesan cheese: Use freshly grated parmesan for the best flavor.
- Seasonings: Garlic powder, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes give this dish wonderful savory flavor.
- Marinara sauce: Use any favorite marinara for delicious sauciness!
- Mozzarella cheese: A topping of melty cheese is the star of this meal! Freshly grated will melt smoothly and have the best taste.
How to make this recipe
This air fryer chicken parmesan recipe could not be easier! Once the chicken is breaded, it cooks up in no time. You’ll have a restaurant-worthy meal in minutes! Here’s the simple process:
- Prep the chicken: Cut chicken breasts in half horizontally. Pat dry thoroughly with a paper towel. Season both sides of the chicken with salt & pepper.
- Prep the breading station: In a small bowl, whisk the egg with 1 tablespoon of water. In another shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and spices.
- Bread the chicken: Coat each chicken fillet in the flour, shaking off any excess. Next, dip into egg mixture, letting excess drip off, then finally dip into the panko mixture, gently pressing to adhere and ensuring both sides of chicken are well coated.
- Cook: Pre-heat air fryer to 400ºF. When hot, place prepared chicken cutlets in a single layer. Spray a generous coating of non-stick cooking spray and set air fryer to 10 minutes. Halfway through (at about the 5-minute mark), flip the chicken breasts and spray the other side with more cooking spray.
- Add sauce & cheese: After 10 minutes, top each chicken cutlet with marinara sauce and then sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top. Close the air fryer and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the chicken is fully cooked (an internal temperature of 165°F).
- Serve: Enjoy hot with cooked pasta or crusty bread.
Recipe Tip
If your air fryer is small and will only hold 2 cutlets at a time, work in batches. To keep the first batch warm while the second batch cooks, warm your oven to 200ºF. Place the first batch of cooked chicken on a baking sheet pan, and keep it warm in the oven while the second batch cooks.
Expert tips
Here are a few tips to make perfect air fryer chicken parmesan each and every time:
- Internal temperature: We recommend checking that the chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165ºF with an instant-read thermometer.
- Slice chicken thin: Be sure the pieces of chicken are sliced thin. This will help the chicken cook quickly and evenly. If they are not thin enough after being sliced, use a meat tenderizer to flatten them.
- Cheese: If you have the time, freshly grate the parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese for the best melting and flavor.
- Garnish: To add a pop of color, garnish with chopped parsley or fresh basil.
Frequently asked questions
Can raw chicken be cooked in an air fryer?
Yes, cooking raw chicken in the air fryer works great! Just be sure to cook your chicken until it is completely done and safe to eat, an internal temperature of 165ºF.
What temperature should chicken be when cooked in an air fryer?
Cook thin chicken breasts at 400ºF for 18 to 20 minutes. To check for doneness, use a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the chicken, and it should read 165ºF. If you don’t have a thermometer, pierce the chicken with a knife at the thickest part to ensure the juices run clear.
What goes good with chicken parmesan?
We like to serve chicken parmesan over a bed of pasta with extra marinara sauce. We also usually pair this meal with a fresh green salad or Caesar salad and some homemade garlic dinner rolls or breadsticks. So tasty!
Storage recommendations
- Storing leftovers: Place any leftover chicken parmesan in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
- Reheating: To rewarm, place it in the air fryer for 10-15 minutes at 350ºF.
- To freeze: We don’t recommend freezing this dish.
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- salt & pepper, to taste
- 1 egg + 1 tablespoon water
- ½ cup flour
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon EACH garlic powder, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Cut chicken breasts in half horizontally. Pat dry thoroughly with a paper towel. Season both sides of the chicken with salt & pepper.
- In a small bowl, whisk the egg with 1 tablespoon of water. In another shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and spices.
- Coat each chicken fillet in the flour, shaking off any excess. Next, dip into egg mixture, letting excess drip off, then finally dip into the panko mixture, gently pressing to adhere and ensuring both sides of chicken are well coated.
- Pre-heat air fryer to 400ºF. When hot, place prepared chicken cutlets in a single layer. Spray a generous coating of non-stick cooking spray and set air fryer to 10 minutes. Halfway through (at about the 5-minute mark), flip the chicken breasts and spray the other side with more cooking spray.
- After 10 minutes, top each chicken cutlet with marinara sauce and then sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top. Close the air fryer and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the chicken is fully cooked (an internal temperature of 165° F).
- Serve hot with cooked pasta or crusty bread.
Equipment
Notes
- Storing leftovers: Place any leftover chicken parm in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
- Reheating: To rewarm your chicken parmesan, place it in the air fryer for 10-15 minutes at 350ºF.
- To freeze: We don’t recommend freezing this dish.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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